Brighter Smiles With Professional Whitening
Coffee, tea, wine, tobacco, aging, and certain medications can leave teeth looking dull or discolored over time. At All Smiles Family Dentistry, Dr. Pruitt offers several professional teeth whitening options based on your goals, timeline, type of discoloration, and level of tooth sensitivity.
Our options include in-office KöR whitening for more immediate results and stubborn discoloration, custom take-home whitening trays, and Opalescence Go prefilled disposable trays. During your consultation, we will evaluate your teeth and gums and recommend the option that makes the most sense for your smile.
Schedule a Teeth Whitening Consultation
Professional Teeth Whitening Options
Whether you want more immediate whitening before an upcoming event or prefer to brighten your teeth gradually at home, we can help you select a professional whitening option that fits your needs. Our available treatments include in-office KöR whitening, customized take-home trays, and convenient Opalescence Go trays that can be used without impressions or custom molds.
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What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
Tooth discoloration can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Surface stains from foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine, and soda
- Tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco
- Certain medications, such as tetracycline or antihistamines
- Excessive fluoride exposure during early tooth development
- Aging, which naturally reveals the yellowish dentin beneath
- Gum disease and other oral health issues
Whitening Options for Every Smile
In-Office KöR Whitening
In-office KöR whitening is designed for patients seeking more immediate results or treatment for particularly stubborn discoloration, including tetracycline staining. It can also be an excellent option when you are preparing for a wedding or another event and have a shorter treatment timeline.
Because the in-office treatment uses a powerful whitening formula, some patients may experience temporary sensitivity. Our dental team will evaluate your needs and explain what you can expect before beginning treatment.
Custom Take-Home Whitening Trays
Custom whitening trays provide a flexible way to brighten your smile at home. The trays are made specifically to fit your teeth, helping the whitening gel remain evenly distributed during treatment.
Patients can choose a lower-strength whitening gel that is worn overnight or a stronger gel that is typically worn for approximately 20 minutes to one hour. We will recommend the appropriate strength and wearing schedule based on your goals and sensitivity.
Opalescence Go Prefilled Trays
Opalescence Go offers convenient, prefilled whitening trays that do not require impressions or custom molds. The trays can be purchased and used the same day. They are adapted to fit over your teeth, worn for approximately 20 minutes, and then removed and discarded.
This option is popular among patients who want a slight color adjustment or prefer a convenient treatment without the additional steps involved in creating custom trays.
Whitening for Sensitive Teeth
Some patients experience temporary tooth sensitivity during or after whitening. We can recommend an appropriate treatment strength, adjust how long or how frequently you whiten, and discuss sensitivity-relief products when needed. In-office KöR whitening is particularly strong, so we will carefully review whether it is suitable for you before treatment.
How Long Will Your Results Last?
Professional whitening results typically last 1-3 years with proper care, significantly longer than over-the-counter products that fade within 3-6 months.
Extend Your Results:
- Follow good oral hygiene practices
- Use whitening toothpaste between treatments
- Schedule touch-up appointments every 6-12 months
- Limit staining foods and beverages when possible
Maintenance Tips:
- Rinse with water after drinking coffee, tea, or wine
- Use a straw for dark beverages
- Brush within an hour of consuming staining foods
- Schedule regular professional cleanings every 6 months.
Is Professional Whitening Right for You?
Professional whitening works beautifully for patients with healthy natural teeth who want to remove stains from food, beverages, or aging. However, whitening isn’t the right solution for everyone.
Ideal Candidates
Patients with naturally healthy teeth and gums who maintain good oral hygiene. Those with surface stains from coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco. Adults wanting to brighten their smile for special events or everyday confidence. Anyone willing to maintain results through regular brushing, flossing, and occasional touch-ups.
When Whitening May Not Be the Best Option
If you have dental implants, crowns, veneers, or bonding, whitening won’t change their shade. Your natural teeth will whiten, but restorations stay the same which can create an uneven appearance. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should wait until after pregnancy and nursing. Patients with severe tooth sensitivity or active gum disease should address these issues first. Those with very deep internal stains may benefit more from other cosmetic options like bonding or veneers.
How Teeth Whitening Works
1
Apply Whitening Agents
Our dentist applies powerful whitening agents, such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, to your teeth. These professional-grade ingredients are designed for effective stain removal.
2
Penetrate & Break Down Stains
The whitening agents penetrate the enamel and break down stubborn stains by releasing oxygen molecules that dissolve discoloration from within.
3
Achieve a Brighter Smile
After the treatment, you’ll notice a visibly brighter, more vibrant smile in a shorter amount of time than you might expect.
Complete Your Smile
Teeth whitening works best as the final step in a complete smile transformation. For patients whose teeth are also crowded, gapped, or misaligned, whitening alone addresses only part of the picture. Straightening first with Invisalign clear aligners creates the ideal foundation, then whitening after treatment reveals the full result on a properly aligned smile.
At All Smiles, Dr. Pruitt designs sequenced treatment plans that combine alignment, cosmetic finishing, and whitening into a single coordinated journey. If you are considering more than just a brighter smile, our cosmetic dentistry services include veneers, bonding, and comprehensive smile makeovers tailored to your specific goals.
Ask about smile makeover planning during your whitening consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when performed professionally. The whitening agents used in our treatments are carefully formulated and applied at safe concentrations. Over-the-counter products, when used too frequently or incorrectly, carry a greater risk of enamel damage than professional treatments supervised by a dentist.
For in-office whitening, one week before your event is ideal. This gives any temporary sensitivity time to settle and allows you to do a small touch-up if needed. Avoid scheduling it the day before, as some mild sensitivity can linger for 24 to 48 hours.
Whitening is generally not recommended while wearing traditional braces, as the brackets block the whitening agent and create uneven results. For Invisalign patients, it is best to wait until treatment is complete so your final smile is whitened evenly and consistently.
No. Whitening agents only work on natural tooth enamel and will not change the shade of composite bonding, tooth-colored fillings, veneers, or crowns. If you have visible restorations in your smile zone, talk to us about coordinating whitening with any planned cosmetic updates.
Start by wearing your trays for shorter sessions rather than the full recommended time, then gradually increase. Use our anti-sensitivity gels before and after treatment. Avoid very hot or cold foods and drinks on whitening days, and take a day off between sessions if sensitivity becomes uncomfortable.
We generally recommend waiting until all permanent teeth have fully erupted, typically around age 14 to 16. Younger teens have larger pulp chambers, making them more sensitive to whitening agents. We assess each patient individually and will recommend the safest approach during a consultation.
Whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains with mild abrasives, but they do not contain the peroxide concentration needed to change the underlying shade of your teeth. They are best used as a maintenance tool after professional whitening, not as a primary whitening treatment.
Store your trays in the protective case provided and keep them away from heat, which can warp the plastic. Whitening gel should be refrigerated to preserve its potency and used before the expiration date printed on the packaging.
Mild fluorosis, which appears as faint white spots, may respond partially to whitening. However, more pronounced fluorosis or tetracycline staining tends to be resistant to peroxide-based whitening. In these cases, cosmetic options like veneers or bonding may deliver better results, and we will discuss all your options during your consultation.
Yes. Schedule a professional cleaning shortly before your whitening appointment if you are due for one. Clean teeth free of plaque and tartar allow the whitening agents to work more evenly and effectively. If you have any untreated cavities or gum sensitivity, let us know beforehand so we can address those first.
All Smiles Family Dentistry Omaha | Dundee | Midtown
Ready for a brighter, more confident smile? Take the first step toward your dazzling smile today! Call our Omaha dental office at (402) 502-7000 or click here to schedule an appointment for your teeth whitening in Omaha, and brighten your smile!